Requirements guide Last verified July 3, 2026

New Hampshire homeschool requirements, in plain English.

Five things every New Hampshire homeschool family should know: whether you file a notice, which subjects to cover, how much instruction time is expected, what evaluations look like, and which records to keep.

Notice & registration

Send a written notice within 5 business days of starting home education to the education commissioner, your district superintendent, or a participating nonpublic school principal.

The notice lists the names, addresses, and birth dates of all children in the program. The agency must acknowledge receipt within 14 days. Notification is one-time per program, not annual, and no parent diploma or degree is required. RSA 193-A:5.

Required subjects

New Hampshire expects instruction in the subjects below.

  • science
  • mathematics
  • language
  • government
  • history
  • health
  • reading
  • writing
  • spelling
  • history of the constitutions of New Hampshire and the United States
  • exposure to and appreciation of art and music

Instruction time (hours or days)

New Hampshire sets no minimum days or hours for home education.

Evaluations & assessments

An annual evaluation is required showing educational progress in keeping with the child's age and ability; results stay with the parent and cannot be used to shut down a home education program.

  • Portfolio review and discussion with a certified teacher or a current nonpublic school teacher chosen by the parent
  • Any national student achievement test administered by a qualified person
  • State student assessment test used by the resident district
  • Another mutually agreed measurement tool (agreed with the commissioner, superintendent, or nonpublic school principal)

Record keeping

Keep a portfolio (reading log plus samples of writings, worksheets, workbooks, or creative materials) for 2 years after instruction ends.

Plan to keep your records for at least 2 years.

Common questions

How do I start homeschooling in New Hampshire?

Send a written notice within 5 business days of starting to one of three places: the state education commissioner, your resident district superintendent, or a participating nonpublic school principal. Include each child's name, address, and birth date. It is a one-time notice, and no parent diploma or teaching credential is required. Confirm the current form with the NH Department of Education.

What subjects does New Hampshire expect home education to cover?

The law lists science, mathematics, language, government, history, health, reading, writing, spelling, the history of the New Hampshire and United States constitutions, and exposure to and appreciation of art and music. How you cover them is up to you.

Do I have to test my child every year?

You need an annual evaluation, but testing is only one way to do it. You can instead have a certified teacher (or current nonpublic school teacher) review a portfolio of your child's work, or agree on another method with the state or district. The results stay with you and cannot be used to end your home education program.

What is an Education Freedom Account and how much is it worth?

An EFA is New Hampshire's education spending account, run by the Children's Scholarship Fund NH with funds spent through ClassWallet. Every NH student eligible for public school can now apply regardless of family income (a statewide enrollment cap applies, with priority groups exempt). Grants start around $4,300-$4,600 per year, and can reach roughly $8,800 with add-ons for family income or special education needs. Check the current figures with CSF-NH or the NH Department of Education.

If my child gets an EFA, are we still homeschoolers under the home education law?

No — it is a separate legal category. When a child starts an EFA, any existing home education program notice under RSA 193-A ends, and the family follows the EFA program's rules instead, including an annual record of educational attainment submitted at renewal. One trade-off to know: EFA students do not keep the same legal right to access local public school classes and activities that home education students have.

Can EFA funds pay for an online curriculum subscription?

Yes. Tuition and fees for non-public online learning programs and purchases of curriculum and instructional materials are approved expense types, paid through ClassWallet to approved providers. Check that the provider is approved in ClassWallet, or ask CSF-NH to add one — parents can request new providers.

Homeschooling in New Hampshire? We’ll handle the paperwork side.

Lessons themed to your kid’s interests, automatic record keeping, and a portfolio export when you need one. 14 days free, no credit card.

Sources

This page is general information, not legal advice. Always confirm requirements with your state before acting on them.